HAIR CUTTING TERMINOLOGY

Please read and learn the terminology bellow. You and your hairdresser will have lot less problems to understand each other.

Guideline - is a precut hair strand used as a guide that is followed with other hair strands divided into sections in order to create a pattern of a balanced hair cut.
Haircutting (also hair shaping) - is the process of cutting, tapering, texturizing and thinning using any hair cutting tools in order to create a shape.
Trimming - removing only split ends with scissors or razor (about 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch).
Layer cutting - the opposite of a blunt cut. The hair is cut under a certain angle and falling in a cascading style.
Tapering (also feathering) - shortening the hair in a graduated effect. This expression is used for very short hair cuts. Many men ask for a tapered cut on the neck and back of their head.
Natural hairline - hair is tapered very closely to the head, leaving the hairline in its natural stage. No blunt cutting on the back of the neck is used.
Cowlicks - directional hair growth. Mostly in the nape area and on top of the head.
Blunt cut - a straight haircut at the bottom. Hair is not layered.
Slithering (also effilating) - process of removing hair in a sliding manner with razor or slightly opened scissors. Used in a hair texturizing.
Thinning - decreasing the thickness of a very heavy hair.
Nipping - cutting the hair with angled scissors ("v" shape) instead of straight across and thus giving a hair little more fullness.
Styling - blow drying, roller setting, teasing, brushing and arranging the hair in a style according to a client's face and head shape.
Teasing - back-combing the heir toward the scalp.
Finger styling - only fingers (no styling tools) are used while blow-drying and styling the hair. Usually with short or curly hair.